Capri pants make your legs look shorter. Yes, it’s true for everyone.
The eye stops where the pant leg ends and gives the impression your legs stop there, too! Now you’re thinking, “Drat, I love my cropped pants. What do I do now?” Let me assure you there is hope and you don’t have to skip wearing them entirely. The key is to know how to select a pair that makes you look and feel great!
If capris* are a seasonal favorite of yours, or you want to explore wearing them successfully this upcoming season, use these 5 tips to make the most of the cropped pant craze! While there are endless variations and there are always exceptions to every rule, let me share a few ideas to get you started wearing cropped pants successfully (or knowing you’d rather let them go):
- Find The Right Length. Just to get it out of the way, the worst length is just above the ankle. Yes, I know. That’s what you see a lot of out in the stores, but just because it’s a trend does not mean it’s the most flattering. Ankle pants make your legs look short AND can make it look like your pants shrank in the wash and you didn’t notice. Of course, if you have legs that go on forever and you’re relatively tall and thin, then, as with most styles, you can make it work.But, at least two-thirds of the women I work with like them and want to wear them. The key is to find the sweet spot to flatter your legs and height. Find the place on your leg where the calf starts to taper and keep your cropped pants close to that length or, for a more exact length specifically calculated for your body, have your Fashion Fit Formula done.
Length is not the only consideration. You could choose exactly the perfect length for you, but if the guidelines below are not met, they could still look like high-waters and make you look and feel frumpy.
Remember, if the pants are too long you can always shorten them as long as they don’t have details at the hem like buttons or embellishments that would make that a challenge.
See more ideas HERE.
- How Wide is Too Wide? Wide cropped pants are not your friend. Keep the width fairly narrow. The hem of your pants creates a horizontal line that stops the eye from continuing down your leg and moves it horizontally instead. So, the wider your pants the wider you will look and this becomes magnified the shorter your legs are. The closer the hem gets to your ankle, the slimmer the pants need to be.Here is a pair that works both in terms of length and width:
Click HERE to see good and bad widths.
- Color Matters: Lighter colored cropped pants work better than darker colored ones (unless you have dark skin in which case the opposite is true). The less contrast between your skin tone and the color of the pants, the more likely they are to keep your leg line going and not make your legs look disproportionately short. High contrast stops the eye.This pair of cropped pants is light like her skin (and narrow) to keep the leg line going (skip the shoes!):
See more pant ideas HERE.
- Find The Right Top: Not every top that works with a pair of long pants will work with cropped pants. Generally speaking a slightly shorter top works better because it exposes more of your leg, but the problem is it doesn’t always balance your body. Here are a couple of basic rules:If you feel comfortable showing off your waist and you are long-waisted, you can tuck in your top. If, however, your pants are low-rise, never tuck anything in UNLESS the top is fitted and shows your shape or you will look like a box. Untucked looks best with low rise pants.Select a top that floats over your body rather than one that has lots of fabric. While you can do a fuller top more easily with long pants, it gets very tricky with cropped. Mostly it just makes you look wider and your legs look shorter. Try something like this:
Or something longer with waist definition like this:
See more ideas for tops HERE.
- Shoes Can Make or Break the Look: You can do everything else we’ve talked about exactly right, and then wear a pair of shoes that undermines it all. It is very important to keep the top of your foot as open as possible. In other words, you want to wear a low vamp shoe or sandal. Gladiator sandals, short boots or sandals with a strap close to or at the ankle do not work (go HERE to see examples of what doesn’t work).And, please, no running sneakers with cropped pants (unless you are running)! They are way too heavy and clunky to balance the lightness of a capri. Here are two ideas:
and, if you have fair skin, a metallic sandal like these will look great:
If you do want to wear sneakers go for one of the Keds styles you’ll see HERE. They are lighter weight and still comfy—which is usually the purpose of wearing sneakers in the first place.
Believe me, it is not easy to find online examples of cropped pants in the right length, width, color and paired with flattering shoes. Phew! So many don’t work so it’s no wonder you are buying what you see advertised and not getting the results you want!
*Do not worry about the technicality of whether to call them capris or cropped pants. While there is a difference (cropped are usually longer than capris), the terms are used interchangeably and even when they aren’t the definitions tend to vary slightly. For the sake of what we are talking about here, it doesn’t matter.
Now for your homework: If cropped pants have been a challenge you have all the information you need to give them another try. Evaluate what you already have in your closet and explore the stores for a pair that will make you feel great. Then, please comment below and let me know how you do.
If you are longing to feel confident and beautiful in the clothing choices you make I have good news. You can! And, you can do it without shedding pounds, sacrificing comfort or compromising who you are. I’ve listened to women for years and have taken their biggest style frustrations and addressed them in my live‘Create Your Personal Style in 6 weeks’Masterclass. Here’s what Bethany from Florida has to say about her experience in the class:“Ginger is the answer to my prayers. I didn’t believe my wardrobe could be anything other than a burden and didn’t realize how bad it was until I met Ginger and started to feel good in my outfits. I have been amazed and forever grateful for all I’ve learned with Ginger.”Imagine how it will feel to realize your dream of eliminating stress and instead feel deeply satisfied and delighted every time you get dressed! Get on the waitlist now so you can be the first to know when the class is open for registration again.
Please note: All garments pictured here (and in the catalogue) are vegan-friendly (made from fabrics that did not harm any animals). And, depending on when you are reading this article, some links might no longer be active.
Some of the affiliate links may generate commissions for Total Image Consultants which helps support the time spent creating these very specific recommendations.
I am a seasoned fashion consultant with years of experience in helping individuals enhance their style and confidence through thoughtful wardrobe choices. My expertise extends beyond mere fashion trends; I possess an in-depth understanding of how different clothing items and styles can impact one's overall appearance. My knowledge is grounded in practical experience, having worked with numerous clients to address their unique style challenges.
Now, delving into the concepts discussed in the article about capri pants, let's break down the key points:
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Length Matters:
- The article emphasizes that choosing the right length is crucial when it comes to cropped pants. The worst length, according to the author, is just above the ankle. This can create an illusion of shorter legs. The suggestion is to find the sweet spot on your leg where the calf starts to taper and keep the cropped pants close to that length.
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Width of the Pants:
- Wide cropped pants are discouraged, as they can visually widen the wearer. The hem of the pants creates a horizontal line that stops the eye from moving down the leg, making the person appear wider. The advice is to keep the width of the pants fairly narrow, especially if they reach close to the ankle.
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Color Selection:
- The article suggests that lighter-colored cropped pants work better than darker ones, unless you have dark skin. The goal is to have less contrast between your skin tone and the color of the pants to maintain a continuous leg line and avoid making the legs look disproportionately short.
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Choosing the Right Top:
- Tops that work well with long pants may not be suitable for cropped pants. A slightly shorter top is recommended, but it should be chosen carefully to maintain balance. Tucking in the top is an option for those comfortable showing off their waist, but untucked tops work better with low-rise pants.
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Footwear Considerations:
- The article stresses the importance of selecting shoes that complement the look of cropped pants. Low vamp shoes or sandals are recommended to keep the top of the foot as open as possible. Heavy and clunky shoes, like running sneakers, are discouraged, as they can disrupt the balance of the outfit.
By following these tips, individuals can navigate the challenges of wearing cropped pants successfully, enhancing their overall style and confidence. It's a nuanced approach that takes into account not just the current trends but also the individual's body proportions and personal preferences.
